Submitted by:
Tracy LaQuey Parker
Manager, Education Market Development
Business Development
Cisco Systems, Inc.
6034 West Courtyard Drive, Suite 305
Austin, TX 78730 USA
v: (512) 338-2479
f: (512) 338-2481
e: tparker@cisco.com
tracy@cisco.com
Categories:
Manufacturing technology; Other (business)
Keywords:
Creation of new ideas, products, or services; Technology transfer
Note:
Laura and Martha,
The following was sent by Catherine Muther in response to a request from Vint Cerf. He wanted information on how the Internet has affected ISOC members for his testimony to the US House Subcommittee on Technology on the subject of technology policy and information infrastructure (back in February, I believe).
Please let me know if you’d like to use it. This has not been edited for your book, so it may need to be reworded a bit. Let me know if you need any other information.
Thanks!
–Tracy
The Story:
One aspect of the Internet which is rarely articulated, but clearly part of the economic theory of technology infrastructure investment, is that the Internet has created wealth by stimulating the growth of commercial enterprise. Cisco proves the point. In fact, one can view Cisco as a kind of “byproduct” of the Internet. In several respects:
Not only were Cisco’s founders working at solving connectivity and interoperability problems at Stanford — the university model became a prototype for the emerging commercial market for multiprotocol routers. Cisco’s routing technology and products were advanced over the Internet through daily electronic dialogue between Cisco engineers and the technical academic and research community. The Internet was the primary means of staying close to our customers and developing products for them in a cooperative spirit. The Internet was also Cisco’s primary “distribution channel” as customers referred the Cisco router to their Internet colleagues around the world. Today, in emerging markets, the Internet still plays a major role as a “virtual” channel of distribution as universities in Latin America, Asia and Africa adopt Cisco technology because of Internet references. There is no question, that the academic and research community is the foundation for the development of commercial business in these emerging markets.
The role of the Internet as a creator of wealth is story that should be told. Today, Cisco has a market valuation of $6.3 Billion. More than 1000 jobs have been created. The Company’s sales this year are expected to exceed $ 600 Million. Cisco is the market leader on a global basis in part because our initial market the Internet community — was worldwide right from the start. Here is an example of an infrastructure investment in the US that helped spawn a US company that has achieved the dominant share of a global market.
For these reasons, Cisco feels a profound sense of gratitude and respect for the Internet community — as well as continuing to recognize its strategic significance not only to our heritage but to our future as well.
For additional information contact:
Catherine Muther
Vice President
Marketing Communications
Cisco Systems, Inc.
1525 O’Brien Drive
Menlo Park, CA 94025
v:: (415) 326-1941
e: cate@cisco.com